Table 2: Changes in serum noncholesterol sterols and squalene during the intervention.

Control group

Intervention group

Baseline

12 months

Baseline

12 months

Cholesterol (mg/dL)

195.9 ± 9.6

193.9 ± 9.3

181.9 ± 5.2

172.5 ± 5.6

0.219

0.413

Cholesterol synthesis markers

Squalene : cholesterol

26.5 ± 2.6

24.7 ± 2.7

23.5 ± 1.2

22.1 ± 1.7

0.860

0.408

Cholestenol : cholesterol

15.2 ± 1.4

16.9 ± 1.9

22.3 ± 2.9c

18.0 ± 2.9d,e

0.025

0.020

Desmosterol : cholesterol(f)

66.3 ± 4.5

63.4 ± 5.2

77.8 ± 5.0

65.6 ± 2.8

0.131

0.161

Lathosterol : cholesterol(f)

179.4 ± 14

175.1 ± 12.7

208.3 ± 13.0

178.9 ± 14.1

0.126

0.069

Cholesterol absorption markers

Campesterol : cholesterol

206.1 ± 27.7

208.2 ± 18.3

227.1 ± 24.2

235.1 ± 30.6

0.656

0.670

Sitosterol : cholesterol

108.1 ± 11.6

107.5 ± 7.7

132.5 ± 16.0

136.6 ± 16.1

0.843

0.842

Cholestanol : cholesterol

131.1 ± 5.8

130.6 ± 6.1

121.0 ± 4.6

135.5 ± 6.7d

0.002

0.004

Cholesterol metabolism markers

Squalene : Cholestanol

0.21 ± 0.03

0.20 ± 0.03

0.20 ± 0.01

0.18 ± 0.02

0.293

0.109

Cholestenol : Cholestanol

0.12 ± 0.01

0.14 ± 0.02

0.20 ± 0.03c

0.14 ± 0.02d,e

0.006

0.006

Desmosterol : Cholestanol

0.54 ± 0.06

0.52 ± 0.06

0.68 ± 0.06

0.52 ± 0.04d

0.016

0.029

Lathosterol : Cholestanol

1.42 ± 0.12

1.42 ± 0.13

1.81 ± 0.15

1.45 ± 0.17d

0.026

0.017

Values shown are means ± SEM.
aGroup by time interaction analysed with analysis of variance for repeated measurements (GLM). If the baseline differed between groups (), it was taken into account as covariance.
bGroup by time interaction (gender and BMI as covariance).
c denotes a significant difference at the baseline between the groups.
d denotes a significant difference from the baseline within the groups.
e denotes a significant difference at the 12 months between the groups.
f denotes a significant change over time (f) (gender and BMI as covariance).